Queens snatch game away in third quarter

Hoiho centre Shelby Cheslek (with ball) looks to feed team-mate Olivia O'Neill (foreground) against the Queens in their Tauihi Basketball clash at Dunedin’s Edgar Centre last night. Queens players Parris Mason and Elin Gustavsson look to pressure Cheslek while Hoiho players Nicole Ruske (obscured) and Bronwyn Kjestrup look on. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON

The signs were promising as Laina Snyder’s shot fell through the net.

She caught the ball on a late shot clock out-of-bounds play, letting fly with defenders on her and swishing through to make it 16-9.

The Southern Hoiho were getting stops and, more importantly, scoring was coming freely — even the tough shots going down. Then, as quickly as it had started, it went missing again.

A 22-12 lead began to evaporate through the second quarter, before the Tokomanawa Queens pulled away.

The visiting side piled on 32 points in the third quarter, ultimately running out a 77-58 winner at the Edgar Centre last night.

It leaves the Hoiho winless six games through their inaugural Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season.

There were flashes of class from the Hoiho, notably in the first quarter when everything clicked at both ends, and a valiant fourth-quarter effort.

Snyder was strong throughout and finished with 20 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists.

Forward Zoe Richards had her best game of the season too, inserted into the starting line-up and putting up an assured and efficient 19 points and seven rebounds.

But there was not enough else and, while this team has again shown it is capable, not putting together a full game remains its undoing.

Richards scored twice early, before a Snyder three-pointer made it 9-5.

Centre Shelby Cheslek began getting involved, before a second Snyder three-pointer made it 18-9 and the Queens were reeling. But slowly they worked back into the game.

The Hoiho offence dried up in the middle two quarters, managing just five points in the second.

However, while Florencia Chagas found her range for the Queens, the Hoiho defended well enough to lead 27-26 at halftime.

That lead changed hands immediately after the break, as the Queens offence stepped up and tore away with the game.

Chagas continued to threaten and finished with 18 points, while leading-scorer Jaime Nared (21 points) was potent through that period.